CSD in Hesse 2025: Pride despite right-wing threats!

CSD in Hesse 2025: Pride despite right-wing threats!

In Hesse, Christopher Street Day (CSD) 2025 will be celebrated under a particularly tense climate. The events are strongly influenced by new hostilities towards the queer community. The CSD in Hanau on June 28th, followed by the planned celebration in Bad Homburg today, shows the increased need for security among the participants. A feeling of insecurity is spreading, which is further reinforced by various attacks on queer people in other cities. The Wetterauer Zeitung reported on an attack on participants in a diversity rally in Bad Freienwalde, in which suspected neo-Nazis were involved were.

The original sense of pride associated with the recurring CSD is increasingly overshadowed by concerns about the safety of participants. In Regensburg the CSD even had to be rescheduled due to an “abstract threat situation”. In addition, right-wing extremist groups mobilized against the CSD in Wetzlar, which contributes significantly to the threat perception.

CSD Wetzlar: A strong sign of solidarity

The CSD in Wetzlar, which took place after a seven-year break, captivated around 550 participants under the motto “Never be quiet again”, while organizers even spoke of 1,500 participants. However, the police, who, together with the event management, ensured that the event was peaceful, also documented a counter-event by around 35 right-wing extremist activists who chanted racist slogans. According to the Hessenschau, this is the first case in which such a counter-event against a CSD was mobilized on a large scale in Hesse. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns that the queer community is increasingly being targeted by right-wing groups, while this type of action has already become normal in eastern German states.

CSD demonstration leader Bianca Carle emphasizes the importance of recognition for queer people and that such events should continue to take place despite the threats. This is particularly important at a time when anti-queer ideologies are visibly increasing. Within the last year, the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution determined that group-based misanthropy plays a central role in right-wing extremist ideology.

Safe participation in CSDs: prevention measures and solidarity

There are also signs of a dangerous development outside of the CSDs. Various organizations are calling for more solidarity from society and political actors to support multiple marginalized queer people. According to rbb24, it is urgently advised that participants should travel in groups and wear queer symbols discreetly in order to prevent possible attacks. Security concepts at events therefore have the highest priority.

Especially in Wetzlar, the participants demonstrated that despite the adversities, there is a strong sense of community. It is a strong signal to everyone who supports the rights and visibility of the queer community. That's why it's worth taking to the streets again and again and taking a stand.

In this sense, special attention is paid to safety at the CSD in Bad Homburg today: public announcements were avoided in order to minimize possible risks. Let's hope that the positive experiences from Wetzlar are also reflected there and that the pride of the queer community remains essential.